Tuesday, 2nd July, 2013
Saint-Etienne defender Kurt Zouma has at last affirmed his position amid the transfer talk surrounding him, by claiming he does not want a move away from the Ligue 1 club.
The Frenchman is currently helping the Under-20 national side towards World Cup glory in Turkey, as speculation around a move abroad threatens to engulf Saint-Etienne.
The club are also battling to keep hold of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while Zouma has garned interest from no less than Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, with Russia’s Anzhi Makhachkala also in the mix.
However, the 18-year-old has categorically denied he is seeking to leave Saint-Etienne, when speaking on the eve of France’s round-of-16 clash against hosts Turkey tonight.
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"I do not want a new [club]", he told L’Equipe. "I am not aware of [any potential future club].
"I’ve heard about the interest from Anzhi but I do not know any more. I will play my World Cup and after that we’ll see what happens. For now, it is the Turkey game that interests me."
Aubameyang’s case has been made harder given the more concrete bids being made for him from Dortmund and Newcastle United, with Arsenal also hoping for a slice of the action.
Dortmund have even sent over a club representative to speak to Saint-Etienne about Aubameyang , but Zouma is blissfully calm about the summer-signing fever that has gripped Europe’s top clubs.
"I’m not in the heads of other players", he added. "But for me, personally, it does not disturb me at all."
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